AYUTTHAYA: The Thai Agriculturist Association has suggested that northern runoff from Nakhon Sawan be diverted to both sides of the Chao Phraya river, instead of being left to surge downstream to the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province.
Pramote Charoensilp, president of the association, said the suggestion was made for the Royal Irrigation Department to consider.
He said the RID was concentrating on regulating the discharge of water from the Chao Phraya Dam, which was receiving a large volume of water from the North.
In his opinion, it was a waste of resources to let water flow downstream unused. The water should instead be diverted using the existing irrigation systems to both sides of the Chao Phraya river into natural water retention areas from Nakhon Sawan down to Chai Nat.
For instance, the water should be diverted to low-lying areas in Lop Buri and Saraburi provinces on the eastern side and to Suphan Buri on the western side of the river. The water could be retained for cultivation of rice and other crops in the next season.
Mr Pramote said this could be done. Most farmers in the area had finished harvesting their rice crops by Sept 15, as advised by the RID.